CELPIP Writing Practice: A Simple Plan for the Weeks Before Your Test

You work full-time at a grocery store in Winnipeg. Starting next month, your daughter will have swimming lessons on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and you are the only person who can drive her. You are currently scheduled to work the evening shift on both of those days.

• Explain why you need a change to your schedule.
• Propose a new schedule, including the days and hours you could work.
• Suggest how your current evening shifts could be covered.

Your supervisor at a distribution warehouse in Mississauga has asked you to work every Saturday for the next two months because several employees are on leave. You would like to help the team, but you are taking an evening course with weekend assignments, and Saturday is the only day you spend with your family.

• Thank your supervisor for thinking of you.
• Explain why you cannot work every Saturday.
• Offer another way to help, and say exactly when you would be available.

A new receptionist named Lucas is joining the dental clinic where you work next Monday. Your manager has asked you to send him a short email before his first day so that he feels welcome and knows what to expect.

• Introduce yourself and describe your role at the clinic.
• Tell him what his first day will look like, including what time to arrive.
• Give him one useful piece of advice about working at the clinic.

You work at a print shop in Halifax. For the past week, the large colour printer has jammed several times a day, and three customer orders were finished late. The owner of the shop is on vacation this week and has asked staff to contact him by email about anything urgent.

• Describe the problem with the printer.
• Explain how it has affected customers.
• Request permission to call a repair company, and say how much the repair might cost.

Doreen, who has worked in your office for 22 years, is retiring at the end of the month. Everyone likes her, and you would like to organize a gift and a small farewell party. You cannot do it alone, so you are writing to the rest of the team.

• Explain what you are planning for Doreen.
• Suggest how much each person could contribute and what the money would buy.
• Ask for volunteers to help with two specific tasks.

You work for a small accounting firm in Calgary. Yesterday you missed a video meeting with a client, Mrs. Henderson, because the meeting was saved on the wrong date in your calendar. She left you a voicemail saying she was disappointed because she had rearranged her day for the meeting.

• Apologize for missing the meeting.
• Explain what went wrong.
• Propose two new times to meet this week.

Your cousin is getting married in Vancouver on the last Saturday of this month, and you have just noticed that you are scheduled to work at the coffee shop that day. Your coworker Mira usually works weekdays, and she has helped you out before.

• Tell Mira why you need that Saturday off.
• Ask her to switch shifts, and say which of her shifts you could take in return.
• Suggest a way to thank her for her help.

Your company recently switched to a new online system for tracking customer orders. Staff received only a 20-minute video about it. Since then, you and several coworkers have been making mistakes and taking much longer to complete orders, and some customers have complained.

• Describe the difficulties you and your coworkers are having.
• Persuade him that more training would benefit the company.
• Propose a training plan, including who could lead it and when it could take place.

Last week your coworker Daniel presented a report to the department head. You did most of the research for the report, but Daniel did not mention your contribution, and the department head praised only him. You want to raise the issue while keeping a good working relationship.

• Mention something positive about Daniel's presentation.
• Explain your concern in a polite way.
• Suggest how the two of you could share credit on future projects.

The restaurant in Ottawa where you work is looking for a new kitchen assistant. Your friend Tomasz moved to Canada last year and has five years of experience in restaurant kitchens. He is reliable and hard-working, but he has not yet worked in a Canadian restaurant.

• Recommend your friend for the position.
• Describe his experience and personal qualities.
• Suggest when he could come in for an interview or a trial shift.

A new family moved in next door two months ago. Their dog barks for hours every weekday while they are at work. You work night shifts at a hospital and sleep during the day, so the noise keeps waking you up. You have not met your new neighbours in person yet.

• Introduce yourself.
• Explain how the barking is affecting you.
• Suggest a solution that could work for both of you.

Last week there was a big snowstorm while you were away visiting family in Montreal. When you got home, you found that your neighbour Gord had cleared your driveway and sidewalk with his snowblower. You have known Gord for several years.

• Thank Gord for what he did.
• Explain why his help made a big difference to you.
• Invite him to something as a thank-you, and suggest a day and time.

The wooden fence between your backyard and your neighbour's yard is old, and part of it blew down during a windstorm last weekend. You have received a quote of $2,400 from a local company to replace the whole fence. You and your neighbour have always been friendly.

• Describe the condition of the fence.
• Propose how the two of you could share the cost.
• Ask when it would be convenient for the work to be done.

You live in a condo building in Toronto. Your downstairs neighbour smokes on his balcony several times a day, and the smoke drifts into your unit through the open windows and balcony door. Your six-year-old son has asthma, and his coughing has become worse this summer.

• Describe the problem.
• Explain why it is a serious concern for your family.
• Ask him for a specific change that could help.

You are going to Mexico for two weeks in February. Your neighbour Priya lives across the street, and the two of you get along well. You need someone to check on your house while you are away, especially because of the cold weather.

• Tell Priya about your trip, including the dates.
• Explain what you would like her to do.
• Offer something in return for her help.

Last Saturday you held a birthday party for your spouse in your apartment. The party went on later than you planned, and the next morning you found a note under your door from your neighbour. She wrote that the music had kept her awake until 1 a.m.

• Apologize for the noise.
• Explain what happened that night.
• Tell her what you will do differently the next time you have guests.

A large maple tree in your neighbour's yard has long branches that hang over your garage roof. Every fall the leaves block your gutters, and you worry that a heavy branch could break off during a winter storm and damage your roof.

• Describe the problem with the tree.
• Explain why you are worried about it.
• Propose a plan for dealing with it, including who would do the work.

Your neighbour left a note on your car saying that your visitors often park in front of his house, which makes it hard for his elderly mother to get in and out of the car. The street parking is public, but you want to stay on good terms with him.

• Respond to his note politely.
• Explain your point of view.
• Suggest a compromise that would work for both families.

Your home internet has stopped working three times in the past two weeks, each time for several hours. You work from home, and each outage cost you part of a working day. You pay $85 a month for the service and have been a customer for five years.

• Describe the problem with your service.
• Explain how it has affected your work.
• Request a specific form of compensation.

Eight months ago you signed a one-year contract with a gym in Edmonton. You have just accepted a job in another province and will move next month. Your contract says that cancelling early costs $150, and the closest branch of the gym in your new city is two hours away.

• Explain why you need to cancel your membership.
• Give reasons why the fee should not apply in your case.
• Suggest a fair solution, such as an amount you would agree to pay.

Last week you paid $640 at a local garage to repair your car's brakes. Three days later, the brakes started making the same grinding noise as before. When you called, the receptionist said you would have to pay $90 for another inspection.

• Describe the repair and the problem that followed.
• Explain why you are unhappy with how your call was handled.
• Tell the owner what you expect the garage to do, and by when.

Your friend Elena opened a small restaurant three months ago. Last Friday you took your parents there for dinner. The food was excellent, but you waited 50 minutes for your main course, and the server was rude when you asked about the delay. Elena has asked you how the evening went.

• Tell her what you enjoyed about the evening.
• Describe the problems you experienced.
• Suggest how she could prevent this from happening to other customers.

You paid $220 for an eight-week pottery course at a private studio. After three classes, the studio cancelled the rest of the course because the instructor left. The studio has offered you a credit for a future course instead of a refund.

• Describe what happened.
• Explain why a credit does not work for you.
• Request a refund, and say how much you think you should receive.

Last weekend a moving company helped your family move from Surrey to Burnaby. The movers arrived on time, worked quickly and protected your belongings carefully. One of them, Sam, even stayed a little longer to help your elderly mother unpack her kitchen.

• Thank the company for its service.
• Describe what the movers did that impressed you.
• Mention how you plan to share your experience with others.

Your latest mobile phone bill is $96 higher than usual because it includes international roaming charges. You have not left Canada in over a year. You called customer service twice about it, but both times the call was disconnected after a long wait.

• Describe the error on your bill.
• Explain what happened when you tried to call.
• Ask the company to take specific steps to fix the problem.

You took your good winter coat to a dry cleaner. When you picked it up, there was a large stain on one sleeve that had not been there before. The employee at the counter said that stains are not the store's responsibility. The coat cost $380 two years ago.

• Describe what happened to your coat.
• Explain why you disagree with the employee's response.
• Propose what the business should do to make this right.

Your child's daycare has announced that monthly fees will rise by $120 starting next month. Parents received the notice only two weeks in advance, and it did not explain the reason for the increase. Several parents have told you that they are worried.

• Explain why you are writing.
• Describe how the increase will affect your family.
• Request a meeting for parents, and suggest a date and time.

Last week you visited your bank branch because you noticed charges on your credit card that you had not made. An employee named Rajiv spent almost an hour helping you. He cancelled the card, explained what to do next and helped you get your money back.

• Explain why you visited the bank.
• Describe how Rajiv helped you.
• Suggest how the bank could recognize his work.

Children from the elementary school near your home cross a busy street at a crosswalk that has no traffic lights. Many drivers do not stop, and last week a child was almost hit by a car. Other parents in the area share your concern.

• Describe the crosswalk and the danger.
• Point out who is most at risk.
• Suggest two changes that would make the crossing safer.

You saw a poster at your community centre saying that the local food bank needs extra volunteers for the holiday season. You have free time on weekends and would like to help people in your community, and you also hope to meet new people.

• Explain why you would like to volunteer.
• Describe any skills or experience that could be useful.
• Tell the coordinator which days and hours you are available.

Your local community centre has asked residents for ideas for new programs next year. You feel the centre offers many activities for children and seniors, but very few for working adults, and almost nothing in the evenings.

• Compare what the centre offers different age groups.
• Propose two new programs for working adults, including when they would run.
• Explain how these programs would benefit the community.

Residents on your street are worried about a plan to turn an empty field, where local children play, into a large parking lot. You are organizing a meeting at the community hall so that neighbours can discuss the plan together.

• Explain the residents' concerns.
• Invite her to the meeting, giving the date, time and place.
• Describe what you hope she can do for the residents.

The playground in the park near your home has a broken slide with sharp edges, and one of the swings is missing. Last spring the city put up a sign saying it would be repaired soon, but eight months later nothing has changed.

• Describe the condition of the playground.
• Explain why the delay is a problem for local families.
• Ask the city for a date when the repairs will be finished.

You have just rented a plot in a new community garden near your apartment. The plot is bigger than you expected, and the yearly fee is $60. Your friend Amira has often said that she would like to grow her own vegetables.

• Tell Amira about the garden.
• Suggest how the two of you could share the work and the cost.
• Invite her to visit the garden with you, and suggest a day.

Last weekend you attended a multicultural festival in your town's main park. You enjoyed the food and music, and your children took part in a dance workshop. However, you noticed that there were not enough garbage bins, and the park was messy by the evening.

• Thank the organizers for the festival.
• Describe what you and your family enjoyed most.
• Suggest one improvement for next year.

Your neighbourhood association runs free evening workshops for residents at the local community centre. You have a skill that you think others would enjoy learning, such as cooking, basic bike repair or using a smartphone.

• Describe the skill you would like to teach.
• Explain why it would be useful for residents.
• Propose a plan for the workshop, including how long it would last and what you would need.

It is January, and the heating in your apartment in Saskatoon has not been working properly for ten days. At night the temperature inside drops to about 15°C. You have phoned your landlord twice, but nobody has come to fix it.

• Describe the problem with the heating.
• Explain how it is affecting you and your family.
• Request that the repair be done by a specific date.

Six months ago you signed a 12-month lease for your apartment. Your employer is transferring you to another city, and you need to move in six weeks. Your lease does not allow you to leave early without the landlord's permission.

• Explain why you need to move.
• Ask whether you can end the lease early, and give the date you would like to leave.
• Suggest ways to reduce any loss for the landlord.

Your condo board has started renting ten of the building's visitor parking spaces to people who do not live in the building, in order to raise money. Since then, your visitors often cannot find a place to park, and some have received tickets on the street.

• Describe how the change has affected residents.
• Give reasons why you disagree with the decision.
• Propose another way the board could raise the money.

A new roommate, Kofi, is moving into your two-bedroom apartment next week. Your last roommate often left dirty dishes in the sink and forgot to pay his share of the electricity bill. You want things to go better this time.

• Welcome Kofi to the apartment.
• Suggest a few simple rules for sharing the space.
• Propose how you will split the monthly bills, and when each payment is due.

You found an online listing for a one-bedroom apartment in Victoria for $1,850 a month. The photos look good and the apartment is close to your work, but the listing leaves out several details that are important to you.

• Explain why you are interested in the apartment.
• Ask three questions about the apartment or the building.
• Request a viewing, and suggest two times that would work for you.

Your landlord has sent you a notice saying that your rent will increase by $200 a month in three months. You have lived in the apartment for four years, always paid on time and recently repainted two rooms at your own cost.

• Explain how the increase would affect you.
• Remind him of your history as a tenant.
• Propose a smaller increase, and explain why it would be fair.

You flew from Montreal to Vancouver for your cousin's wedding. Your suitcase, which held your clothes for the wedding, did not arrive, so you had to buy new clothes for $310. The airline delivered your bag four days later, after the wedding was over.

• Describe what happened.
• Explain how it affected your trip.
• Request compensation, and say what it should cover.

You and your friend Jonas have been talking about taking a road trip together next summer. You both have time off in July. You are considering two options: driving through the Rocky Mountains or driving along the coast of Nova Scotia.

• Compare the two possible trips.
• Recommend the one you prefer.
• Propose dates and a rough plan, including how long the trip would last.

You stayed three nights at a hotel in Niagara Falls to celebrate your wedding anniversary. You had paid an extra $90 per night for a room with a view of the falls, but you were given a room facing the parking lot. The front desk said no other rooms were available.

• Describe the problem with your room.
• Explain why this was especially disappointing.
• Tell the manager what you would like the hotel to do, including any amount you expect back.

Your cousin Lina lives abroad and is visiting Canada for the first time next summer. She will stay with you for most of her trip, but she also has four free days and wants to visit another Canadian city on her own.

• Recommend a city for her to visit.
• Describe two things she should do there.
• Give her advice about how to get there and roughly how much it will cost.

You are planning a whale-watching trip in Tadoussac, Quebec, with your father, who uses a wheelchair. The tour company's website has information about prices and departure times, but nothing about accessibility on the boats or at the dock.

• Explain your plans and your father's needs.
• Ask two questions about the tour.
• Request a booking for a specific date if the tour is suitable.

Since the new school year started, your 10-year-old son has been spending more than two hours every night on homework. He is often tired and upset, and he has stopped going to hockey practice because he does not have time.

• Describe the situation at home.
• Explain your concerns.
• Request a meeting, and suggest two possible times.

You are taking an evening accounting course at a community college. Your final project is due next Friday, but your mother had surgery last week, and you have been caring for her every evening since then.

• Explain your situation.
• Request an extension, and say how much extra time you need.
• Describe the work you have already completed.

You are taking free English classes for newcomers at a settlement agency. Classes run on weekdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Many students in your class, including you, have recently found jobs and are starting to miss lessons.

• Explain how the classes have helped you.
• Describe the problem with the current schedule.
• Propose a new schedule, and explain who it would help.

Your friend Rosa has worked in retail for ten years but has always dreamed of becoming a nurse. Yesterday she told you that, at 38, she thinks she is too old to go back to school. You know someone who started a nursing program at 41.

• Respond to Rosa's worry.
• Share the example of the person you know.
• Suggest a first step she could take this month.

Your daughter's elementary school is raising $10,000 to replace its old playground equipment. The parent council has asked families for fundraising ideas and volunteers. You have an idea for an event and some free time on weekends.

• Describe your idea for a fundraising event.
• Convince the council that your idea would be successful.
• Offer to help, and say what you could do and when.

You have visited the same walk-in clinic three times this month. Each time you waited more than three hours, even though the clinic's website said the wait was under one hour. On your last visit, you had to leave before you saw a doctor.

• Describe your experiences at the clinic.
• Explain why the long waits were a problem for you.
• Suggest two ways the clinic could improve.

Your uncle has had back pain for several months, but he refuses to see a doctor. He says he is too busy and that the pain will go away on its own. He lives alone, and you have noticed that he has trouble climbing stairs.

• Express your concern about his health.
• Give reasons why he should see a doctor soon.
• Offer to help him get an appointment, and say how.

You have a dental cleaning booked for tomorrow at 9 a.m., but your child woke up with a fever and you need to stay home with her. The clinic's policy says that appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice are charged a $75 fee.

• Apologize for the late cancellation.
• Explain why you cannot come.
• Ask the clinic to waive the fee, and suggest a new appointment time.

At your yearly check-up, your doctor told you that you need more regular exercise. You have joined a recreation centre that offers swimming and fitness classes, but you find it hard to stay motivated on your own. Your friend Nadia lives nearby.

• Tell Nadia what the doctor said.
• Invite her to exercise with you, and describe the activities on offer.
• Suggest a weekly schedule that could work for both of you.

Your old friend Marcus and his wife have just had their first baby. You live in Regina and they live in Toronto, so you cannot visit right away. You remember how difficult the first few months were when your own children were born.

• Congratulate Marcus and his wife.
• Tell him about a gift you are sending and when it should arrive.
• Give him some advice for the first few months.

Your close friend Sophie is getting married in Portugal in June and has invited you to the wedding. You would love to go, but the trip would cost about $3,000, and you have just started a new job where you cannot take time off yet.

• Thank Sophie for the invitation.
• Explain why you cannot attend.
• Suggest another way to celebrate with her, and say when.

Your younger brother Karim is moving to Canada in March to join you. He will stay in your home at first while he looks for work. He has asked you what he should bring and how he can prepare before he arrives.

• Tell him what to pack for the weather in March.
• Give him advice about preparing to look for work.
• Describe your plan for helping him during his first weeks.

Your friend Hana invited you to her 40th birthday dinner last Saturday. You had to stay late at work unexpectedly, and you forgot to let her know that you could not come. When you spoke briefly on the phone yesterday, she seemed hurt.

• Apologize for missing her dinner.
• Explain what happened.
• Propose a way to make it up to her, including a date.

This year you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner in the house you bought in the spring. It will be the first time most of your relatives see your new home. A few family members have special diets, and your house is a long walk from the nearest bus stop.

• Invite your family to dinner, giving the date and time.
• Describe your plans for the meal.
• Ask about any food needs, and explain how to get to your house.

Six months ago you lent your friend Viktor $500 when he lost his job. He has a new job now and recently posted vacation photos online, but he has not mentioned paying you back. Your car insurance payment is due next month.

• Remind Viktor about the loan in a friendly way.
• Explain why you need the money now.
• Propose a repayment plan that would be easy for him.

Your parents' 35th wedding anniversary is in two months. You want to organize a surprise party for them, and you need help from your sister Leila, who lives in another city. Your parents have mentioned that they would prefer a quiet celebration.

• Share your idea for the party.
• Suggest how the two of you could divide the tasks and costs.
• Ask her opinion about the date and the place.

Your friend Bao recently got his driver's licence and wants to buy his first car. He found a 12-year-old car online for $4,500 and asked for your opinion. You bought a used car last year and learned some useful lessons.

• Give your opinion about the car he found.
• Share what you learned when you bought your car.
• Suggest what he should check before he buys it.